Appliance for the access into streamline-shaped vehicles



ug. 3, 1948. E RECHAIN 2,446,434

` APPLIANCE FOR THE ACCESS INTO STREAMLINE-SHAPED VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1945 uqene, RE CHIM N ll Ill lllll Il l II- l ll I l. l .rllllllllllldll F w, A.

R Ok T N E V mm m ug. 3, w48. E. REcHAlN APPLIANCE FOR THE ACCESS INTO STREAMLINE-SHAPED VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1945 Patented Aug. 3, 1948 APPLIANCE FOR THE ACCESS INTO STREAMLINE-SHAPED VEHICLES Eugne Rechain, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, as-

signor to Socit Nationale de Constructions Aronautiques du Nord, Paris, France Application August 17, 1945, Serial No. 611,028 In France September 17, 1942v Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires September 17, 1962 3 Claims. 1

The invention relates to an appliance for the access to streamline shaped vehicles, and in particular aircraft bodies.

The various means at present -used for the access into aircraft bodies offer certain drawbacks. Thus, the stationary foot-boards or steps disposed under the aircraft body require a rather strong and, therefore, heavy structure; besides, they give rise to an important drag. On the other hand, the foot-boards or steps which are adapted to be folded together under the aircraft wing make the descent of the passengers di'lcult; moreover, the stresses undergone by this appliance produce after a certain time of service deformation of the wing near the body, which may be the cause of undesirable vibrations.

The present invention has for its object to devise an appliance for the access into aircraft or other streamline-shaped vehicles, in which the above drawbacks are eliminated. Said appliance essentially comprises a ladder, constituted by several elements so interconnected that they may be either folded together or developed in alignment, and a recess provided in the door of access to the aircraft body or any other place, for accommodating the ladder in folded up position. The outermost element of said ladder is preferably in the shape of a panel forming a cover for said recess.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing the door for the access into an aircraft body and the ladder in the unfolded position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, showing the ladder in the same position;

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the ladder folded together in the door recess.

Referring to the drawing, the appliance according to the invention comprises a rigid element formed by two tubular uprights I, 2 and two rungs 3, 4. Uprights I, 2 are telescopically united 'with tubularv uprights 5, 6 connected together by a rung 1, thus forming a second ladder element. The lower ends of the uprights 5, B are attached to a panel 8 by means of hinges 9. In the unfolded position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, uprights 5, 6 are almost completely extracted from uprights I, 2 and panel B is located in alignment with the two ladder elements; in the folded position shown in Fig. 3, uprights 5, 6 are completely pushed into uprights I, 2 and the re- 2 tracted elements I, 2, 3, 4,{5, 6, 'I are rocked bodily about hinges 9 against panel 8.

Within uprights I, 2 are preferably arranged coaxial cylindrical rods I2 which are secured at the top to upper plugs I0 closing uprights I and 2. Said rods I2 are loosely guided through upper plugs II at the top of uprights 5, Ii and are provided at their lower ends with a shoulder I4, which may be constituted by a nut screwed thereon. Shoulders I4 are adapted to bear against the lower faces of plugs II, with a view to limit downward extension of the ladder and prevent the ladder elements from being separated.

Rods I2 are preferably screwed into plugs IB and provided with a lock-nut I3, for locking them in place when shoulders I4 assume the proper position. They further assist telescopic movement of uprights 5, 6 within uprights I, 2.

The door I8 is formed with a recess I1 and panel 8 is so arranged as to constitute a cover for said recess I7. With the ladder in its unfolded position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, folding of the latter is obtained by pushing uprights 5, 6 into uprights I, 2, clapping panel 8 about the hinges 9 against uprights I, 2 and locking the whole assembly thus folded about hinges I6, so as to insert the two ladder elements into the recess, and lay panel 8 on the inlet opening of the recess, thus closing the latter as shown in Fig. 3. Unfolding of the ladder takes place by reverse movements.

The device further comprises means for locking the ladder ln the recess. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, this means comprises a handle 20, rotatably mounted on panel 8 and operatively connected with a lever 2l, the ends of which are pivoted to latches 22 adapted to engage catches 23 provided in the sides of recess I1.

The device according to the invention has the following advantages:

Easy handling from the ground or from the aircraft body.

Perfect merging with the outer wall of the aircraft body, when folded together, whereby the aerodynamic qualities of the aircraft are not impaired.

Possibility of giving to the ladder the proper size for an easy access to the vehicle.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiment above described, which has been given only by way of example.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

2. A door and ladder unit as claimed insclaim 10 1 wherein said ladder corxviprises-v atelescoping section.

3. In a door and ladder unit as claimed in claim 1, latching means on saidpanel-section and catch means in said door adapted to cooperate 15 with said lai-,ching means. l

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file. of this; patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 519,184 JI- Iolbrook May 1, 1894 '966,518 'Bessler Aug. 9, 1910 1,721,521 Marschke July 23, 1929 1,805.3829 .Marschke May 19, 1931 Lindstedt Apr. 21, 1936 

